“I begin to think, that a calm is not desirable in any situation in life.”

— Abigail Adams, Letter to Mary Smith Cranch, 1784

About Abigail Adams

1744 – 1818

American First Lady and prolific letter writer, wife of John Adams.

“How few have souls capable of so noble an undertaking!”

“I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in this province.”

“Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.”

“The universe is flux, life is opinion.”

“We are busy that we may have leisure, and make war that we may live in peace.”

“When Life does not find a singer to sing her heart she produces a philosopher to speak her mind.”

“The heart of life is a sphere quiet and serene, and the star that shines therein is fixed for evermore.”

“The mind weighs and measures but it is the spirit that reaches the heart of life and embraces the secret.”

“We think a happy life consists in tranquility of mind.”